Alabama football team's visit to the White House postponed

A winter storm expected to blanket the Washington, D.C., area with snow

UA Football team trip to White House Postponed

04-19-12 -- Washington D.C. -- President Obama and Alabama head Coach Nick Saban enter the south lawn during a ceremony in Washington D.C. Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Tuscaloosa News / Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Tommy DeasExecutive Sports Editor

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 2:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 2:31 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama football team's visit to the White House, scheduled for today, has been postponed due to a winter storm expected to blanket the Washington, D.C., area with snow.

UA was scheduled to meet today with President Obama for the second year in a row and the third time in the last four years to be honored for winning the 2012 BCS national championship. Alabama also won the Bowl Championship Series titles in 2009 and 2011.

The event will be rescheduled for a future date, according to a news release by the White House.

Alabama did learn Tuesday that it's 2013 season opener against Virginia Tech on Aug. 31 in Atlanta will be televised nationally by ESPN, with a 4:30 p.m. CST kickoff time from the Georgia Dome.

Alabama and Virginia Tech will play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. UA defeated Clemson in the 2008 Chick-fil-A game and Virginia Tech in the 2009 game. The Crimson Tide defeated Michigan in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in last season's Cowboys Classic in another high-profile, neutral-site contest. UA lost to Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2007.

"Any way you look at it, this is an epic game between two top programs led by two of the best coaches in college football," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. "Add to that, two of the best fan bases and an unopposed time slot on ESPN and you have the makings of a battle of heavyweights the country will anticipate all summer long."

The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will host a FanZone event before the game as well as tailgating and cook-off events.

All game tickets will be sold through the participating schools' ticket offices.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama football team's visit to the White House, scheduled for today, has been postponed due to a winter storm expected to blanket the Washington, D.C., area with snow.</p><p>UA was scheduled to meet today with President Obama for the second year in a row and the third time in the last four years to be honored for winning the 2012 BCS national championship. Alabama also won the Bowl Championship Series titles in 2009 and 2011.</p><p>The event will be rescheduled for a future date, according to a news release by the White House.</p><p>Alabama did learn Tuesday that it's 2013 season opener against Virginia Tech on Aug. 31 in Atlanta will be televised nationally by ESPN, with a 4:30 p.m. CST kickoff time from the Georgia Dome.</p><p>Alabama and Virginia Tech will play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. UA defeated Clemson in the 2008 Chick-fil-A game and Virginia Tech in the 2009 game. The Crimson Tide defeated Michigan in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in last season's Cowboys Classic in another high-profile, neutral-site contest. UA lost to Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2007.</p><p>"Any way you look at it, this is an epic game between two top programs led by two of the best coaches in college football," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. "Add to that, two of the best fan bases and an unopposed time slot on ESPN and you have the makings of a battle of heavyweights the country will anticipate all summer long."</p><p>The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will host a FanZone event before the game as well as tailgating and cook-off events.</p><p>All game tickets will be sold through the participating schools' ticket offices.</p>